A: Last weekend I actually rented an American car. We had a conference here and I definitely needed a second car. But it was simply awful! It was a Chevrolet--horrible! A new car, but terrible.

B: Well, I have to say the Chrysler minivan we have, it’s not really so bad. Regarding family cars, I think you should at least maybe sit in a minivan once and see how the Americans in this respect are actually more accommodating to families than the Germans.

A: Well, concerning the size and comfort and so forth, I can believe that. But I’m of the firm opinion that the minivans, the jeeps, that people take shopping these days are a real . . . How should I say? They should really be prohibited. You just put in the gasoline and it’s used up as if [the supply] were inexhaustible.

B: Yes, but that’s more a question of public policy--whether one promotes cars that guzzle so much gas. That doesn’t say anything directly about the quality of the cars. I swear by my Caravan!

A: How long have you had it?

B: For four years. Four years, and it’s . . . Counter to all the warnings I got, nothing has gone wrong with it yet. So maybe you should consider whether that might be a possibility for you.

A: Well, I’m astounded that you’ve had such a good experience with it. I have acquaintances and friends that really haven’t had such a good experience.